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Background: In goat kids, choosing the appropriate age to administer the first dose of goat pox disease (GTP) vaccine requires knowing when maternal antibody decline concentrations. Objective: Determine the persistence of maternal antibodies against goat pox virus (GTPV) in goat kids. Animals: Twenty Saanen goat kids from birth to 120 days old. Methods: In 2 groups, including: control (receiving colostrum from nonvaccinated does) and treatment (receiving colostrum from vaccinated does). On zero, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70, 100 and 120 days after the birth, virus neutralization test was used to measure the serum concentration of antibodies against GTPV. Results: At the age of 56 days, the first seronegative goat kids (n = 2) were recorded in the treatment group. At the age of 120 days, all the goat kids in the treatment group were seronegative. The average virus neutralization index (VNI) of the goat kids became negative at the age of 100 to 120 days. All goat kids in the control group were negative at all times. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: One hundred to 120 days of the age seems to be the time to administer the first GTP vaccine in the goat kids with passive immunity against goat pox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Respiratory pathogenic beta-hemolytic streptococci in horses, including Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, the causative agent of strangles disease, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus is an important cause of respiratory disease and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis has been isolated from nasal swabs taken from horses with a history of respiratory disease. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to determine the frequency and risk factors of respiratory tract infections originating from beta-hemolytic streptococci in the provinces of West Azerbaiian, East Azerbaiian, and Ardabil. METHODS: During this study, 121 horses with clinical respiratory symptoms were sampled. After performing clinical examinations and recording clinical signs in special worksheets, sampling of the upper part of the respiratory tract was performed using nasopharyngeal swabs. The samples were sent to the laboratory in a standard transfer medium with cold chain. RESULTS: In this study, out of 121 samples collected from horse breeding clubs from 10 different regions of northwestern Iran, 51 were negative for beta-hemolytic streptococci while the results were positive for the other 70 samples (P<0.001). Regarding the positive samples for beta-hemolytic streptococci, the results of differential cultures were as follows: eight cases of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, 57 cases of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, and five cases of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis. There was no significant relationship between the frequency of beta-hemolytic infections with variables of gender, race, and geographical area (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the statistical test showed a significant relationship between the frequency of infection with these bacteria and the variable of clinical symptoms (P<0.001). Moreover, the frequency of beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections was significantly associated with age (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results herein suggested that the bacterial cause of the maiority of respiratory infections in infected and sampled horses in the provinces of West Azerbaiian, East Azerbaiian, and Ardabil at the time of sampling was Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and that this organism is a potential pathogen for respiratory diseases in horses in these provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the etiological agent of caprine contagious pleuropneumonia (CCPP) disease. The CCPP is one of the most severe diseases of goats. A herd of 2,000 goats located in the countryside of Tehran city, Iran, was examined for the study in August 2021. In history taking, observation, inspection and clinical examination, high case fatality rate (46.00%) due to respiratory distress and high morbidity of pleuropneumonia (15.00%) syndrome were recorded. Accordingly, ten carcasses of goats were dissected. The epidemiological pattern of the disease, clinical examination findings and the signs of necropsy of dead patients were suspected to CCPP. Four lung samples of necropsied goats were sent to the laboratory for PCR test and in all of them, Mccp was detected and CCPP was also confirmed. The disease was controlled by two measures: (a) the whole herd was first treated with antibiotics (florfenicol and tylosin) and (b) then the Pulmovac-In vaccine was then administered. This study is the first documented report of CCPP occurrence caused by Mccp in Iran and shows the importance of availability of effective vaccines to control and prevention of CCPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, infectious neuromuscular disease in all farmed mammals caused by Clostridium tetani. The disease is sporadic but outbreaks of tetanus have been described, as a result of wound contaminated with spores of C. tetani, which sporulates to the vegetative form and produce toxins. The present study reports an outbreak of tetanus in a sheep flock, shortly after ear tagging. Three sheep from a large flock (with a population of 1000 sheep) were presented with signs of: convulsion, limb stiffness, incoordination and trismus ("lock jaw"). There were wounds and scabs in most livestock where ear tags had been attached 1 week prior. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia, dyspnoea with dilated nostrils, mild fever, erected ear pinnae, teeth grinding, mild bloat, muscles rigidity, prolapse of third eyelid and anxiety. According to the history stated by the owner, the case fatality rate of the disease from the beginning was 50% during the outbreak. Necropsy did not reveal any significant finding. Gram‐positive bacilli with terminal spores representing C. tetani were isolated in anaerobic cultures which were taken from ear wounds. Procaine penicillin G was administrated at 20 000 IU/kg BW for 5 days, but antiglobulin was not available to treat affected animals. Mortality significantly declined one day after onset of treatment. In this report, the organism was probably introduced by contaminated instruments which were used for ear tagging of sheep. Wound exudation and adhesion following rubbing, created a favourable anaerobic condition for the spores to germinate with production of neurotoxin. Vaccination can protect animals against tetanus, but it does not preclude the need to apply standard hygienic principles when performing management procedures causing wounds. In pasture holding system, many pathogens are present in environment, so tetanus should be considered important in farm animals, because of its high fatality rate and the long course of convalescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) produces different virulence factors allowing the bacterium to colonize and develop watery diarrhea. Proteomics studies have also introduced new protein belonging to the secretion pathways, antigen 43 (Ag43), which plays important role in E. coli pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate O-types and virulence factors of E. coli isolates from neonatal calves diarrhea. Total of 120 isolates from diarrheic calves were genotyped for their O groups and the presence of virulence genes K99, F41 and STa as well as Ag43. The predominant O-type was O101 (51.00%) and the prevalence of K99, F41 and STa was 7 (5.80%). The Ag43 was detected in all samples with three different allelic patterns. Our results indicated that K99 positive isolates certainly have one of each 2200 bp or 1800 bp or both copies of Ag43 passenger domain, while negative K99 isolates lack the Ag43. The results reported here provide informative data regarding the prevalence of E. coli O-types and their virulence factors in enteric colibacillosis. The Ag43 that was more found in K99 positive isolates might be associated with diarrhea-causing E. coli strains in neonatal calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious viral disease of ruminant animals. Eradication of disease in western countries is by slaughter of infected and in contact animals but this is not possible in endemic countries. There is no standard treatment for FMD in endemic countries, but anti-inflammatory drugs and mild disinfectant and protective dressing to inflamed areas to prevent secondary infection is recommended. Method: A randomised controlled clinical trial of a homeopathic preparation of Tarentula cubensis (Theranekron ®) was conducted during an outbreak of FMD in cattle in Iran. A single subcutaneous injection of Theranekron ® was used as sole treatment in 50 infected animals (treatment group). The control group comprised 15 infected animals treated with standard medication including: daily injection of flunixin meglumine and oxytetracycline and daily dressing of lesions with 4% sodium carbonate. Systemic and local signs were recorded over 14 days. Results: Rectal temperature in treatment group subsided to normal range within 1 day of homeopathic treatment, and was significantly lower in test group than in control group on several successive days (P < 0.05). Healing of inflamed mucosal areas and appetite score of the treatment was significantly better than control during first 3 days of treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It appears that Theranekron ® is effective for treatment of systemic and local signs of FMD-infected cattle. Further research is justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]